Mithi blames Centre, NSCN (I-M)

In his first statement since crisis overtook his ministry, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mukut Mithi has held the Centre, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and some state politicians responsible for the state-of-affairs and said it would jeopardise national interest.

"There was a clear-cut nexus between politicians and the NSCN (I-M) in the bid to topple my government," Mithi said in Itanagar on Monday night, adding his government had written several letters to the Centre about how the extremist organisation was trying to spread its influence in his state.

"The nexus came to light after the recovery of a diary from two NSCN (I-M) cadres arrested here last year. They were sent by the NSCN (I-M) leadership with the objective of toppling my government on the plea of repealing the Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act enacted to check the activities of underground organisations," he said.

He also said that money from the NSCN (I-M) had played a vital role in the toppling game.

Mithi alleged that the Centre was taking everything very casually and had declined to send even a battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force to assist 'Operation Hurricane' to flush out NSCN (I-M) ultras from Arunachal Pradesh.

Asked what he would do now that most of his legislators had deserted him and joined former chief minister Gegong Apang, Mithi said that he would abide by the decision of Governor Vinod Pandey.